Animals perish in Brookfield barn fire; structure destroyed

BROOKFIELD – About 100 chickens and two sheep died when a barn caught fire at 29 Fiskdale Road on Saturday.

Homeowner William Thompson said he tried to get the animals out.

The barn was reduced to rubble as firefighters chased hotspots into the night. When firefighters arrived about 5:20 p.m., the barn was engulfed, Chief Peter Martell said.

He said the distance from the barn to Mr. Thompson's home made spreading less of a concern, and said firefighters methodically set up to knock down the fire. He said a tanker operation was set up to get water to the scene with help from Sturbridge, Spencer, and Warren firefighters and equipment.

Chief Martell said the damage would likely make it difficult to determine a cause, but there was little likelihood it was suspicious. Part of the building collapsed, and a backhoe was used to push in the rest of the structure, the chief said. Town trucks laid down salt and sand as water created icy conditions.

Mr. Thompson said the barn dates back to 1941 or 1942, when it replaced a previous barn that burned.